The Samoa Sex Offenders Register is increasing, which indicates a rise in rape and sexual assault offending that have gone to trial.
Deputy Police Commissioner Papalii Monalisa Tiai-Keti told the Samoa Observer, the names on the list were increasing as more sex offenders were being convicted.
“There are cases of people whose names have been taken off the registry but they re-offend and their names are entered back into the register,” she said.
The Samoa Sex Offenders Register is not a public document, like it is in other countries.
Papali’i said, the Samoa Sex Offenders Registration Act 2017 governs who has access to the registry and who can view it; and it is maintained by the Ministry of Police.
She added that it is a tool for the police to be able to monitor the people who are listed in the registry, and to record changes in residential and work address.
“There is also a reporting procedure whereby sex offenders listed are supposed to report to police stations.”
According to Papalii, the confidentiality clause in the law allows for the rehabilitation of offenders and prevents social stigma and victimization.
There is a misconception among members of the public that the registry can be accessed by anyone to see if they were living within the vicinity of a registered sex offender.
But police have clarified that this is not the case.
Section 40 of the Sex Offenders Registration Act states that persons with access to the Register, are not to disclose personal information from it.
